Relationship between attack and skipping in taekwondo contests

Santos, VGF, Franchini, E, and Lima-Silva, AE. Relationship between attack and skipping in Taekwondo contests. J Strength Cond Res 25(6): 1743-1751, 2011-The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between attack time (AT) and skipping time (ST) during the 2007 Taekwondo World Championship and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. A total of 22 matches (65 rounds, 13 semifinals, and 8 finals) from the World Championship and 23 matches (63 rounds, 22 rounds with 16 athletes each and 1 quarterfinal round) from the Olympic Games, both in the male category, were assessed using time-motion analysis. The AT was considered as the total time during which the athlete attacked or tried to attack, whereas ST was the total time without attempting to attack. The ratio of AT to ST was similar to 1:7 based on the data pooled from the 2 competitions. The AT/ST ratio was significantly lower for the World Championship than for the Olympic Games (p <= 0.05). In the Olympic Games, no consistent differences across weight divisions were found. However, during the World Championship, the heavier weight divisions (>78 kg) exhibited a lower average AT, lower summed AT, lower attack numbers (ANs) and higher average ST than lighter weight divisions (<58 kg, p <= 0.05). For both competitions, the ST was lower, and the ANs and AT/ST ratio were higher in round 3 than in round 1 or 2. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that matches in the Olympic Games were less cadenced than in the World Championship, but that in both competitions, the intensity of the match increased in round 3. Practically, these data suggest that coaches need to structure Taekwondo training sessions in a manner that allows the work/pause ratio to mirror the physical demand imposed during competitions.

Investigation of Normal Force and Moment Coefficients for an AUV at Nonlinear Angle of Attack and Sideslip Range

This paper presents a comparative study of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and analytical and semiempirical (ASE) methods applied to the prediction of the normal force and moment coefficients of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Both methods are applied to the. bare hull of the vehicle and to the body-hydroplane combination. The results are validated through experiments in a towing tank. It is shown that the CFD approach allows for a good prediction of the coefficients over the range of angles of attack considered. In contrast with the traditional ASE formulations used in naval and aircraft fields, an improved methodology is introduced that takes advantage of the qualitative information obtained from CFD flow visualizations.

The VITATOPS (vitamins to prevent stroke) Trial: Rationale and design of an international, large, simple, randomised trial of homocysteine-lowering multivitamin therapy in patients with recent transient ischaemic attack or stroke

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that raised plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) may be a common, causal and treatable risk factor for atherothromboembolic ischaemic stroke. Although tHcy can be lowered effectively with small doses of folic acid, vitamin B-12 and vitamin B-6, it is not known whether lowering tHcy, by means of multivitamin therapy, can prevent stroke and other major atherothromboembolic vascular events. Purpose: To determine whether vitamin supplements (folic acid 2 mg, B-6 25 Mg, B-12 500 mug) reduce the risk of stroke, and other serious vascular events, in patients with recent stroke or transient ischaemic attacks of the brain or eye (TIA). Methods: An international, multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Results: As of November 2001, more than 1,400 patients have been randomised from 10 countries in four continents. Conclusion: VITATOPS aims to recruit and follow up 8,000 patients between 2000 and 2004, and provide a reliable estimate of the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 in reducing recurrent serious vascular events among a wide range of patients with TIA and stroke. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Homocysteine-lowering treatment with folic acid, cobalamin, and pyridoxine does not reduce blood markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, or hypercoagulability in patients with previous transient ischemic attack or stroke - a randomized substudy

Background and Purpose - Epidemiological and laboratory studies suggest that increasing concentrations of plasma homocysteine ( total homocysteine [tHcy]) accelerate cardiovascular disease by promoting vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and hypercoagulability. Methods - We conducted a randomized controlled trial in 285 patients with recent transient ischemic attack or stroke to examine the effect of lowering tHcy with folic acid 2 mg, vitamin B-12 0.5 mg, and vitamin B-6 25 mg compared with placebo on laboratory markers of vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and hypercoagulability. Results - At 6 months after randomization, there was no significant difference in blood concentrations of markers of vascular inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [P = 0.32]; soluble CD40L [ P = 0.33]; IL-6 [P = 0.77]), endothelial dysfunction ( vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [P = 0.27]; intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [P = 0.08]; von Willebrand factor [P = 0.92]), and hypercoagulability (P-selectin [P = 0.33]; prothrombin fragment 1 and 2 [P = 0.81]; D-dimer [P = 0.88]) among patients assigned vitamin therapy compared with placebo despite a 3.7-mumol/L (95% CI, 2.7 to 4.7) reduction in total homocysteine (tHcy). Conclusions - Lowering tHcy by 3.7 mumol/L with folic acid-based multivitamin therapy does not significantly reduce blood concentrations of the biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, or hypercoagulability measured in our study. The possible explanations for our findings are: ( 1) these biomarkers are not sensitive to the effects of lowering tHcy (eg, multiple risk factor interventions may be required); ( 2) elevated tHcy causes cardiovascular disease by mechanisms other than the biomarkers measured; or ( 3) elevated tHcy is a noncausal marker of increased vascular risk.

Observer agreement of spine stenosis on magnetic resonance imaging analysis of patients with cervical spine myelopathy

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to measure the intraobserver and interobserver reliability of magnetic resonance detection of cervical spondylotic myelopathy with and without operational guidelines. Methods: Seven radiologists examined images from 10 patients with cord signal abnormalities and clinical signs of myelopathy. Radiologist examined films twice, with and without operational guidelines designed to define stenotic changes, while blinded to the clinical findings of the patients. Analyses included a Fleiss kappa assessment of intraobserver and interobserver reliability. Results: Results demonstrated high percentage of agreement and strong intraobserver reliability and variable Fleiss kappa, values for interobserver assessment. Operational guidelines did not improve the intraobserver or interobserver agreement. Conclusion: Although the percentage of agreement was high in some cases, the kappa agreement was low-most likely a result of the base rate problem of a kappa analysis. Sample bias toward severe degenerative changes resulted in highly prevalent selections and kappa adjusted values. Nonetheless, the results do suggest that substantial intraobserver kappa agreement and a wide range of interobserver kappa agreement exists among trained radiologists during detection of stenotic changes associated with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Intra- and inter-observer reliability of MRI examination of intervertebral disc abnormalities in patients with cervical myelopathy

Purpose: Intervertebral cervical disc herniation (CDH) is a relatively common disorder that can coexist with degenerative changes to worsen cervicogenic myelopathy. Despite the frequent disc abnormalities found in asymptomatic populations, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered excellent at detecting cervical spine myelopathy (CSM) associated with disc abnormality. The objective of this study was to investigate the intra- and inter-observer reliability of MRI detection of CSM in subjects who also had co-existing intervertebral disc abnormalities. Materials and methods: Seven experienced radiologists reviewed twice the MRI of 10 patients with clinically and/or imaging determined myelopathy. MRI assessment was performed individually, with and without operational guidelines. A Fleiss Kappa statistic was used to evaluate the intra- and inter-observer agreement. Results: The study found high intra-observer percent agreement but relatively low Kappa values on selected variables. Inter-observer reliability was also low and neither observation was improved with operational guidelines. We believe that those low values may be associated with the base rate problem of Kappa. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrated high intra-observer percent agreement in MR examination for intervertebral disc abnormalities in patients with underlying cervical myelopathy, but differing levels of intra- and inter-observer Kappa agreement among seven radiologists. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fas ligand and tumour counter-attack in colorectal cancer stratified according to microsatellite instability status

Expression of membrane-bound Fas ligand (FasL) by colorectal cancer cells may allow the development of an immune-privileged site by eliminating incoming tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in a Fas-mediated counter-attack. Sporadic colorectal cancer can be subdivided into three groups based on the level of DNA microsatellite instability (NISI). High-level NISI (NISI-High) is characterized by the presence of TILs and a favourable prognosis, while microsatellite-stable (MSS) cancers are TIL-deficient and low-level MSI (MSI-Low) is associated with an intermediate TIL density. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between MSI status and FasL expression in primary colorectal adenocarcinoma. Using immunohistochemistry and a selected series of 101 cancers previously classified as 31 MSI-High, 30 NISI-Low, and 40 MISS, the present study sought to confirm the hypothesis that increased TIL density in MSI-High cancers is associated with low or absent membrane-bound FasL expression, while increased FasL in MSS cancers allows the killing of host TILs. TUNEL/CD3 double staining was also used to determine whether MSS cancers contain higher numbers of apoptotic TILs in vivo than MSI-High or MSI-Low cancers. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, it was found that MSI-High cancers were associated with higher FasL expression (p = 0.04) and a stronger intensity of FasL staining (p = 0.007). In addition, mucinous carcinomas were independently characterized by increased FasL expression (p = 0.03) and staining intensity (p = 0.0005). Higher FasL expression and staining intensity did not correlate with reduced TIL density or increased numbers of apoptotic TILs. However, consistent with the hypothesis that curtailment of the host anti-tumour immune response contributes to the poor prognosis in MSS cancers, it was found that apoptotic TILs were most abundant in MSS carcinomas and metastatic Dukes' stage C or D tumours (p = 0.004; p = 0.046 respectively). This study therefore suggests that MSS colorectal cancers are killing incoming TILs in an effective tumour counter-attack, but apparently not via membrane-bound FasL. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Are thiazide diuretics preferred as first-line therapy for hypertension? An appraisal of The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT)

No Abstract

Pre-operative tractography of the facial nerve in vestibular schwannomas: inter-observer agreement with surgical findings

Pre-operative diffusion tensor (DT) tractography is currently employed in our institutions. We use it to predict the course of the facial nerve (FN) in the vicinity of vestibular schwannomas (VS) of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). In this study we were interested to assess the inter-observer reproducibility of this method. Two Neuroradiologists (PMGP and TT) determined independently the location of the FN by tractography and compared the results with in-vivo findings of microsurgery of VS.

An Unprovoked Attack by a Blue Shark Prionace glauca (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhinidae) on a Spear Fisherman in Terceira Island, Azores, Northeast Atlantic

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Spatial analysis of suicide attack incidences in Kabul City

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

The Triplaria tree (Triplaris spp) and Pseudomyrmex ants: a symbiotic relationship with risks of attack for humans

The authors report a massive attack by Pseudomyrmex ants on a human who touched a Triplaria - novice tree (Triplaris spp). The ants naturally live in these trees and their stings cause intense pain and discrete to moderate local inflammation. The problem is common in some Brazilian regions and can be prevented by identifying the trees.

Cost efficiency and resistance to chemical attack of a fly ash geopolymeric mortar versus epoxy resin and acrylic paint coatings

This article presents results of an experimental investigation on the resistance to chemical attack (with sulphuric, hydrochloric and nitric acid) of several materials: OPC concrete, high-performance concrete, epoxy resin, acrylic painting and a fly ash-based geopolymeric mortar). Three types of acids with three high concentrations (10, 20 and 30%) were used to simulate long-term degradation. A cost analysis was also performed. The results show that the epoxy resin has the best resistance to chemical attack independently of the acid type and the acid concentration. However, the cost analysis shows that the epoxy resin-based solution is the least cost-efficient solution being 70% above the cost efficiency of the fly ash-based geopolymeric mortar.

Attack of Potyphagotarsonemus tatus on cotton treated with growth retardants

The effects of growth retardants on infestation by Potyphagotarsonemus tatus (broad mite) on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. IAC-17) plants was studied. Cotton plants were sprayed with (2-ch1oroethy1) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) 250, 350 and 450 ppm, and with 1,1-dimethyl-piperidinium chloride (Pix) at concentrations of 84, 167 and 250 ppm. Growth retardants did not give effective control of Potyphagotarsone mus tatus but application of Pix 167 ppm showed a tendency to reduce mite attack.